Sedges in the Wild and Garden: ID, Ecology, and Use with Gary Kauffman

Sedges in the Wild and Garden: ID, Ecology, and Use with Gary Kauffman $35.00

Sunday, May 24 2026, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Meet at ABG Visitor Center (indoor and outdoor class)

Sedges are often overlooked or mistaken for grasses, but they play a vital role in our landscapes and ecosystems. In this class, botanist Gary Kauffman will introduce participants to the remarkable diversity of native sedges found in the Southern Appalachians.

There are over 160 sedge, Carex, species present in the southern Appalachian Mountains. This introductory class will show key characteristics that distinguish sedges from one another, from grasses, and from other members of the larger sedge family. Highlighted species will include some of the sexiest sedges (searsucker, broadleaf, broad loose-flowered, purple, and South Carolina); the common sedges (Pennsylvania, parasol, common, black-edged, and broom); the small sedges (Appalachian, Eastern star, and rosey); the larger (sallow, Gray’s, and bladder); and the odd sedge, Fraser’s. Gary will discuss which plant communities where different species occur and their ecological roles.

We will tour the Botanical Garden for sedges after indoor class instruction. For gardeners, this class offers practical guidance on incorporating native sedges into designed landscapes—whether as ground covers, texture, or low-maintenance alternatives to turf.

With decades of experience studying regional flora, Gary brings deep knowledge and a field-based perspective to this often under-appreciated group of plants.

Gary Kauffman is trained as a botanist and ecologist. In 2025, he retired following a 32-year tenure with the National Forest Service in North Carolina. Part of Gary’s job covered 1.4 million USFS-managed acres from the mountains to the coast. His work included identification of plants, including rare species, and plant communities. Gary currently serves on the boards of Asheville Botanical Garden and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.

COST : $35 for non-members, ABG members receive 25% off

CLASS SIZE : 25

**Members: to apply your member discount, enter the code: CLASSES25 at the checkout page**